Keppel Corporation appoints Chan Hon Chew as Group CFO
The board of directors of Keppel Corporation Limited announces that Mr Chan Hon Chew has been appointed to succeed Mr Loh Chin Hua as Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 February 2014, the company said in its press release.
Mr Chan, 48, has been with Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA) for over ten years and served as its Senior Vice President (SVP) of Finance since June 2006. As SVP Finance, he is responsible for a diverse range of functions including investor relations, corporate accounting and reporting, treasury, risk management and insurance.
Mr Chan is also involved in SIA's strategic planning process and had represented SIA as a director on the boards of various companies including Tiger Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited.
Mr Choo Chiau Beng , CEO of Keppel Corporation said, "We have undertaken a rigorous succession management process, examining both internal and external candidates to find the best fit for the CFO role.
"I am pleased that we have found a strong candidate in Hon Chew who possesses leadership, financial and management expertise spanning several companies and industries. I am confident that Hon Chew will provide solid support to Chin Hua as well as bring fresh perspectives and dynamism to Keppel's leadership team."
In April 2013, Mr Chan was appointed by Singapore's Ministry of Finance to the Board of the Singapore Accountancy Commission. He was also elected to the Council of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants in July 2013.
Prior to SIA, Mr Chan was Assistant General Manager for Finance and Corporate Services at Wing Tai Holdings Limited where he oversaw all financial matters as well as tax, legal and corporate secretarial functions from 1998 to 2003. In his early career, Mr Chan was a Financial Controller of the Storage Systems Division at IBM Singapore and an auditor at Price Waterhouse.
Mr Loh Chin Hua, CEO-designate of Keppel Corporation said, "Hon Chew is well-versed with capital structuring and a wide range of corporate functions, abilities which he has used to help strengthen companies financially and operationally. Hon Chew is also adept at working with huge, diverse teams and has proven to be both an effective leader and a strong team player.
"It is with great pleasure that we welcome him onboard the Keppel team. I am confident that Hon Chew will be a strong asset to us, as we chart the Group's growth and value creation for years to come."
As Keppel Corporation's CFO, Mr Chan will be responsible for the Group's financial functions, including managing capital, finance, treasury and tax, as well as legal matters.
He will support the CEO in the Group's strategic business planning process and participate in all major investment initiatives and decisions, providing sound financing options and optimal structuring of major projects, apart from building and enhancing shareholder and investor relations.
Mr Chan is a member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and the CFA Institute (United States). He graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 1989. In 2011, he was conferred the Best CFO Award at the Singapore Corporate Awards for exemplary financial leadership.
Meanwhile, Mr Paul Tan, Keppel Corporation's Group Controller will be the Acting CFO for the month of January 2014.